The party has ended. Social services showed up again, wishing to interview Zinda about her adoption - and get it done quickly; they have procedures for adopters serving aboard ships, military or civilian. Hrrin was roped into helping her, as a character witness and witness to statements in general. This leaves Alexander, Spyboy, Abraham, B4, and the newly-renamed Metis alone in a back room.This may be a good thing for Alexander, as he is still getting briefed.
[OOC] Alexander: by Zinda
[OOC] Spyboy: But Social Services dragged her off!
Spyboy: "So, Cap-Admiral. Any idea what's next on our schedule?"
[OOC] Spyboy: "Poke under every rock on this planet."
[OOC] WC GM: It can be safely assumed that others have taken over the briefing.
[OOC] WC GM: Anything you're still unclear on, now is the time to ask.)
Alexander: "Wait… Wenser bots? What the hell is a Wenser bot?"
B-4: "It's a robot that looks like Wenser."
Alexander: "Are they dangerous? We should tell someone!"
Abraham: "As opposed to a Wenser who looks like a robot."
B-4: "They're no more dangerous than anything that looks like an Admiral. They're equipped with a self-destruct but it's internal."
Alexander: "We should tell Admiral Wenser that he's being impersonated. He needs to know."
Spyboy: "He does know. He had them made."
Ingenue: "The admiral is impersonating himself. Statistically, this has a high chance of success."
Abraham: "He tends to use them as body doubles."
Alexander: "How did he make them? I didn't realize our technology was capable of producing such a replicant."
Spyboy: "Man, Zinda did NOT get far enough on briefing you."
Spyboy: "The answer to that, Commander, is we don't know."
Spyboy: "Apparently he gave the plans to one of the Integrated to manufacture, so he had the plans somehow."
Alexander: "And who, exactly, is Zinda? She seems… unusual."
Abraham: "You have a long career in diplomacy ahead of you."Alexander shrugs
Alexander: "It's a strange group you have here, Admiral."
Abraham: "Oh you have no idea."
Ingenue: "What is unusual about this group?"
Alexander: "Did Wenser make this android as well?"
Abraham: "That is the wrong question, if only because it would take less time to list the things that /aren't/ unusual with this group."
[OOC] Ingenue: Have we moved forward on our 'wenser is a neph secret agent that took human form and became the mask' theory?
[OOC] Spyboy: No, but that makes sense.
Ingenue: "It is likely that the Admiral knew of the android's commission, but it is unlikely that the Admiral created the android."
Alexander: "So… where is it from?"
Ingenue: "That is not yet known. A sound conclusion will require gathering more data."
Alexander: "I mean the android, where is it from?"
Abraham: "We don't know. We have suspicions, but no hard evidence."
[OOC] Ingenue: We've never actually gotten an intact android, have we? They've been all melty inside?
Alexander: "I mean this one."
[OOC] Abraham: No. They all did the gooey kablooie.Alexander points at Ingenue
[OOC] WC GM: I think Alexander's talking about the android that is present.
[OOC] WC GM: And you do know where Ingenue came from.
[OOC] Alexander: Do I? I don't remember if we went over that…
[OOC] WC GM: Alexander doesn't.
[OOC] Alexander: oh, yeah, that's what I meant. I read the logs
Abraham: "It might just be my upbringing, but I've always considered it rude to refer to someone in third person right in front of them."
Alexander: "But it's not a person, it's an android."
[OOC] WC GM: The rest of the party watched Ingenue's assembly. Yes, even Ingenue has a third-person-perspective recording of Ingenue's assembly - as well as, probably, a partial first-person-perspective.
[OOC] Ingenue: oh! Specificity is the key to something something something.
Ingenue: "The neo-AI was created by LaGOS at the request of Zinda. The Type 3 frame the AI is housed in was fashioned by LaGOS in the refineries of Lago Prime."
Alexander: "I didn't realize the Lagos had that sort of production capability down there…"
Abraham: "That's a pretty slippery slope. I mean, babies are still people, even if they aren't fully developed yet. And most babies are still older than Ingenue."
Alexander: "What was Lagos Prime like?"
Alexander: "And who is that Zinda person?"
[OOC] Ingenue: Spyboy should answer the 'who is Zinda' question.
Spyboy: "You spent half an hour getting mission details, you're the psychiatrist, shouldn't you be telling us who Zinda is?"
Spyboy: "Well. Or not telling us, rather. Professional ethics."
Alexander: "I just met her, that sort of thing takes time."There comes a knocking at the door.
Abraham: "I'll get it."Abraham gets it (after checking who it is. If it's an overly large insect, he doesn't open the door.Outside is a man in overalls, gripping a long handle that ends in a wheeled bucket - a janitor, recognizable even to 20th-century sanitation engineers. "Hey, I gotta clean up, and you're the last room. You gonna be much longer?"The venue outside does seem to be rather thoroughly clean, and devoid of party-goers.Spyboy yawns
Abraham: "We will be out in a moment. Thank you for your patience."
Spyboy: "It probably is time to head back to the ship, sir."
[OOC] Abraham: Best not to annoy janitors. They have a distressing tendency to be almighty.
Abraham: "I agree. Let's head back."
Janitor: "Alright. Oh, and uhmmm…Admiral Bounty, sir, could you promise me one thing?"
Janitor: "You ain't gonna be like Kali?"
Janitor: "Ras'n'fras'n leaving her bugs all over. Pretty sure I got 'em all."
Abraham: "Ah… no I have totally different annoying quirks that you will grow to love. But no bugs. At least not as many as Kali."
Abraham: "We'll leave you to your work."Abraham leads the group back to the ship.Spyboy recognizes this janitor from his academy days, specifically Counterintelligence Basics. This janitor gave a guest lecture on how to professionally clean a scene - with an emphasis on simple techniques that can be done to remove evidence, and potential countermeasures.
Janitor: "Thank you, sir."The janitor specifically nods to Spyboy and B4 as they pass, apparently remembering them.Outside, it is late at night and quiet. Even the orbital debris seems to have rained itself out, or been taken care of.
[OOC] Abraham: BRB… again.The Roland remains in orbit, but the group's fighters are where they were parked.
[OOC] WC GM: Presumably you're taking them back up to the Roland?
[OOC] Ingenue: Is it too far too walk? Also, we probably bring Zinda/H'rrin with us.
[OOC] WC GM: Yes, orbit is too far to walk. Zinda and Hrrin appear to have already left, judging by the absence of their fighters.
[OOC] Ingenue: Then, in the absence of the admiral, who is absent, I'd say… yes?The Roland is conducting resupply and repair, and a night's shore leave was authorized by the XO. Full readiness is expected tomorrow by 1000 ship time.Quarters for Alexander were assigned - apparently the transfer paperwork came through after all. They are right next to Hrrin's.
[OOC] WC GM: Once Abraham's back, where are you going?
[OOC] Abraham: Abraham is back
Spyboy: "I think I'm gonna take this neutrino comm down to the electronics bay to see if we can duplicate it. Heggy, would you mind sticking with them in case they need any professional electronics help?"
Alexander: "I'm… I'm going to go take a look around…"
Abraham: "Well now, I believe it is customary for new Admirals to take a tour of their sector, and I believe we shall start with Collins and investigate the refugee situation."
Abraham: "Please do. I'm very proud of The Roland."Alexander heads off in a seemingly random direction that doesn't lead to anywhere of importance.
Heggy: "You sure? It's pretty much like every other carrier of its class."
Abraham: "Oh! Don't open the airlocks. It would be bad."Once through the jump point, the executive officer takes one look at the tactical display and facepalms.
XO: "Sir. Monitoring a…well, technically it's a dogfight in progress."
[OOC] Spyboy: Timeskip, I assume?
[OOC] WC GM: Pretty much.
XO: "Civilian-grade weapons only, and not very accurate shooters. No one's in danger of losing shields any time soon."
XO: "Most of the fighting is verbal."
Abraham: "Monitor them. We'll let them carry on and only intervene if it looks like lives are at stake."
XO: "Yes sir. Should we head for Salaam or Amaal?"
Spyboy: "Any idea what the sides are?"
Abraham: "XO?"
Spyboy: "Wait. That's my job, isn't it."
XO: "Looks like kilrathi versus lagos."
XO: "With some observer ships."Spyboy heads to an open console and starts cracking encryption protocols.No encryption is in use.
[OOC] Spyboy: Observer ships as in….observers? Or observer ships as in….referees?
[OOC] WC GM: Good question. They are not doing anything but watching so far.Spyboy probes with implant. Any of the lagos out there Integrated?
Abraham: "So what does the conflict seem to be about? Any clues in the transmissions?"Over a thousand responses echo back.
XO: "It just seems to be a string of insults and taunts so far, sir. The usual."
Spyboy: "[What's up?]"
Integrated: "[Newcomer! Oh, hey, steer clear of the stage. You don't want to blunder through the set.]"
Abraham: "Any transmissions from the observer ships? Any gambling? Anyone placing bets on the outcome?"
Spyboy: "I was wrong. They're not referees. They're cameramen and directors."
XO: "Not on the observer ships…" The officer blinks. "Eh?"
Abraham: "Oh dear. have we found another sporting event?"
Spyboy: "No, a film."
Spyboy: "Or a play, perhaps."
Abraham: "Well, unless someone here was cast and didn't tell me, we're not a part of it. Let's make planetfall."
Spyboy: "Which does go back to the XO's question. sir."
[OOC] Abraham: Heggy has a sudden guilty look on her face… She was apparently cast to be Juliet
Abraham: "We'll go to both eventually, but first…" Abraham takes out a coin and flips it.Abraham rolled up Selected result: AmaalAbraham catches the coin and sees it is tails. "Amaal it is."
Abraham: "And if anyone asks, I did them in alphabetical order."
XO: "Yes sir! Steering clear of the 'battle' zone."
Abraham: "Thank you."
[OOC] Ingenue: brbAmaal follows the traditional colonial pattern: one big capital city, several smaller towns, and a scattering of other dwellings around the planet. Most of it is forested wilderness - a combination of native lifeforms (none above the plant level) and seeded plants from Terran (and in this case, also Mu Cephei) stock.That said, there is quite a bit of farmland. With Mu Cephei Prime burnt, Amaal is the largest single cultivation of what crops used to be grown by the lagos.Portions of the wilderness are cultivated into shapes. Icons from the dominant faiths from Mu Cephei are clustered together in one of the southern areas, barely large enough to be visible from orbit.
Abraham: "Well, let's look around."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Sorry, I was helping a friend out at like 6AM, just woke up.
[OOC] Abraham: Abraham spies a wild Zinda in the tall grass. "Ingenue, I choose you!"
[OOC] Ingenue: I knew that this would be the most important battle of my life. Now I live in an android-ball, and am very sad.
Heggy: "I wonder if this is what home used to look like?"
Heggy: "Feels weird, though."
Spyboy: "Yeah, kinda backward."
Abraham: "Looks normal to me. Maybe a little religious, but that's to be expected when you loose your home planet."Abraham grew up on a farm.Alexander shows returns to the group, looking tired.
Abraham: "Physician. Heal thyself. Have you been sleeping?"
Alexander: "No."
Abraham: "Might want to look into it. I find it very soothing."
Abraham: "But I am not a doctor."
XO: "Uh, sir? Fielding a request from the surface."
XO: "They want you to inspect your likenesses."Alexander leans over to SpyboyZinda Tegram arrives at the group around this moment.
Abraham: "?"
Alexander: "Collins?"
XO: "Ahh…here, putting it on main screen…"
Abraham: "My likeness?"A series of images display in turn. One statue of the three admirals, to which a fourth is being added. A set of coins, some bearing Abraham's mug shot.Stylized depictions of what the party soon realizes is the wormhole fight at Mu Cephei, complete with somewhat detailed (but - hopefully - nonfunctional) replicas of the incomplete wormhole stabilizer.
Abraham: "Oh dear."Abraham sighs, "very well. I will send them a mug shot."
[OOC] Ingenue: backA mountainside, like the trio-statue, bearing three faces; a fourth is being blasted into it.
Zinda Tegram: "How the hell did they…"
Zinda Tegram: "…Oh, of course. Integrated."
Spyboy: "*cough*Classified*cough*."Spyboy, B4, and Ingenue are suddenly hit with…the neutrino communicator interprets it as song and holograms (which it displays as flat 2D images), but it seems to carry more context, extra modes not easy to pin down. It's a capsule summary of a love play - a standard Romeo and Juliet affair, adapted to a new medium. Other Integrated ask the sender to tone it down.
[OOC] Abraham: Ha! Hy knew hit!
Ingenue: "Ah. This unit may now understand the sensation biologics title 'pain'."The XO takes in a breath to speak, but the next image speaks for itself: toy knockoffs of the Roland are being churned out, based on scans from the planet's surface being conducted right now.
Abraham: "Why, what's wrong Ingenue?"
Alexander: "You guys seem popular."
Spyboy: "Note to self: bump neutrino comm shielding up on the priority list."
Abraham: "Is that what happened? Are you under attack?"Zinda Tegram glances at Metis. "What's that 'hon?"
Ingenue: "A long, rapid string of words and images broadcast over the neutrino communicator that briefly overloaded the processing centers associated with handling input from the neutrino communicator. This unit has enhanced the processing power devoted to filtering out… superfluous data."
Abraham: "So you're being jammed."
Ingenue: "There is an abundance of data within the communicator that seems unnecessary. However, until the data is properly analyzed, such a conclusion is ill-considered. It does not seem to inhibit short-range communications. It is merely… abundant."
Spyboy: "Not jammed."
Abraham: "Ah. Accidentally jammed with junk data. That happens a lot in first year's officer school."
Spyboy: "More like someone's shouting in our ears and eyes."
Abraham: "I see."
Ingenue: "Ah. Historical database search reveals that such tactics are often used to torture prisoners. This data may be useful later."
Zinda Tegram: "Ouch. Spam, huh?"
XO: "Landing clearance has been given without asking. They, ah, seem to be a bit aggressive about wanting your presences…" The officer looks at Abraham, Spyboy, B4, Ingenue, Zinda, and Hrrin in turn. "…all of yours."Zinda Tegram smiles a bit. "Well. Who are we to deny them?"
Spyboy: "Wait wait wait."
Spyboy: "They know who I am?"Alexander smiles that he isn't nearly important enough to be recognized.Spyboy starts fuming. You can hear "YEARS of effort down the drain" muttered.
Abraham: "You are a human married to a Lago. Probably a certain population finds that significant."The executive officer looks at Alexander. "I am ordering you to accompany them, just in case."
[OOC] Ingenue: Spyboy: "Was Nue Wrong to Update Your Facebook Status?"
Alexander: "Why not. Should be fun to watch."
XO: "Yes, Lieutenant Pearson. It seems there's a certain 'In Crowd' that specifically wants you, your wife…" The officer gesture to Ingenue. "…and your tagalong who I'm guessing I'm not cleared to know everything about and not complaining in the least."
Ingenue: "Tagalong?"
XO: "Err. No offense."
Spyboy: "I appreciate that someone is willing to pretend to know nothing about something."
XO: "But they seem to know more about you than I do, and I'm here standing right next to you."Spyboy glares at Zinda
XO: "I'm guessing 'In Crowd' means something to you?"
Spyboy: "It didn't….but…"Spyboy goes quiet.
[OOC] Abraham: Given how close we are to 4:00, this should be the last BRB this session.Heggy pokes him in the side.
Spyboy: "Oh, right. Now I'm wondering why the message went through you - if it was meant to go through other channels…..then they'd be the ones blocked by Romeo and Juliet Must Be Bunnies. I see."The executive officer raises an eyebrow.Spyboy glares at Zinda again, though it's a slightly different glare.
Spyboy: "This is what happens when the Integrated don't have Elles' moderating influence, Zinda!"
Zinda Tegram: "Is that so?"
XO: "There's that word again. 'Integrated'."
Zinda Tegram: "You'll figure it out, Officer."
XO: "…hmm. Might 'In Crowd' be code for 'Integrated'?"
Zinda Tegram: "Doesn't seem like today is your lucky day though."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Heeheee!
[OOC] Abraham: I'm not back yet, but Shads will also BRB
Zinda Tegram: "Oh, yeah, by the way."Zinda Tegram -glares- at the XO. "My daughter is no tagalong."
Spyboy: "Yes. She's definitely Zinda's daughter and not the robot you provided secure storage space for before it woke up."
XO: "Your…ah. Apologies, ma'am, I was unaware of the relation."Spyboy looks at the XO with a straight face.Spyboy blinksAlexander takes notes.
XO: "…okay then."
Spyboy: "You didn't?"Spyboy looks at Zinda
XO: "No. Is…"
Spyboy: "Dame Tegram! I'm ashamed of you!"A message beeps on the console.Zinda Tegram meets Spyboy's look with one of her own.
Spyboy: "It's the XO's job to manage personnel issues, like adoptions!"
XO: "…aaand that's the adoption paperwork that just came through. Last night?"
XO: "No wonder I hadn't heard yet."
[OOC] Ingenue: back
Spyboy: "You need to inform him of changes of personnel status so he can update DEERS and make sure your dependencies are in order!"Zinda Tegram smiles.
XO: "I'll take care of it."
Zinda Tegram: "Thanks."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Zinda is feeling -very- smug.Ingenue glances between the XO, Spyboy and Zinda, knowing that there is subtext and, quite likely, supertext that the AI is just missing. And so it is all dutifully recorded for later analysis.
XO: "I assume you'll be taking care of her education? I can load up standard curricula from the databases for you."
XO: "I'll have a summary sent to your quarters, when you have time to deal with it."
XO: "In the mean time, what should I tell your 'adoring' fans about when or whether you'll go planetside to meet them?"
Zinda Tegram: "That would be helpful, thanks."
[OOC] Abraham: Back, and caught up.
Zinda Tegram: "Though I think she might be a bit ahead for her age. Probably college level for things that aren't culture."
Spyboy: "Don't tell the In Crowd that I don't want to talk to them until I've figured out how to lie to them."Zinda Tegram pulls ingenue for a little one-armed hug.
Zinda Tegram: "You just did, Spyboy."
Abraham: "That was my understanding as well."
Spyboy: "Nah, they can't hear me, they have the entire archive of done in 30 seconds with bunnies playing in their ears. Ow."
Alexander: "Spyboy, we can get to work on that after we visit with your fans."
XO: "Doctor, can I entrust you to conduct the standard aptitude tests for Miss Tegram's daughter, when you have a chance?"
XO: "Your files say you're qualified."
Alexander: "Gladly, although it seems like very little is " Standard " around here."Abraham gives Alexander an amused smile.
XO: "Then may this be a break from the abnormality."
[OOC] WC GM: Logend draws near, so last lines?
Abraham: "Given how things have gone, I expect the amount of 'abnormality' to only increase."Zinda Tegram tussles Metis's hair. "How about it 'hon? Would you like some educational materials?"Alexander takes notes on Zinda's strange parenthood fixation.Ingenue glances up at Zinda. "Are they different from what was downloaded from the Roland's databases?"
Abraham: "I'm certain it would be easy enough to give her a student account on the ship's computer."
Zinda Tegram: "Some of them."
Ingenue: "Oh! Then yes, please!"
Zinda Tegram: "Heehee! Alright, but you have to be good."
XO: "I'll have it set up by the time you get back."Zinda Tegram nods. "Thanks."